Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 ANNUNCIATION TO ZECHARIAH: Perfect Submission

Hebrews 5:1-10

v7,8 - “Son though he was , he learned  obedience from what he suffered and, once  made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him."
 

Have we ever felt that God doesn’t hear our prayers? We need to be sure that we are praying with reverent submission. Jesus’ human life on earth was not a script that he passively followed, it was a life that he chose freely (John 10: 17&18). It was a continuous process of making the will of God the Father his own. Jesus chose to obey and submit himself that led to his suffering and death ensuring eternal salvation to all of us. God responds to his obedient children when they are willing to do only what God wants.
Annunciation to Zechariah also came because of his faithful and fearful submission to the God which made God appoint a forerunner of the Saviour and Redeemer of the entire mankind through the birth of John the Baptist.

Faithful Submission
Zechariah was upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments. Zechariah served the Lord even though he and his wife had one of the biggest disappointments in life. Zechariah prayed for a child for a long time even when he and his wife Elizabeth were well past the age of having children. Scripture tells us that Zechariah, and Elizabeth, were "and they both were very old" (Luke 1:7). God was not answering his prayer but he did not turn against God. His disappointment did not keep him from worship, prayers, sacrifice and offering. He did not become bitter. He kept on serving and loving God. He submitted himself to God faithfully

Fearful Submission
Casting of lots decided who will do various tasks in the temple. Zechariah was chosen to offer incense in the Holy Place. This was a great honour. Many priests served for a lifetime without having this honour.  See the providence of God, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33). God wanted Zechariah to burn incense in the Temple. As a practice, fragrant incense were offered to God to make the people realize that their prayers were pleasing to God as the fragrance of the incense was pleasing to their nostrils.  At this most special, holy moment in the life of Zechariah when he was most reverently (fearfully) open to God, the angel of the Lord appeared and Zechariah got terrified which made the angel say, "Do not be afraid" (Luke 1:13).
Jesus was always morally perfect. By obeying and submitting, Jesus demonstrated his perfect submission to us. We also through perfect submissions can wait for great annunciations from God.

PRAYER
God you remembered the promise to reward faithfulness through the annunciation to Zechariah.  God remember this promise and hear our prayers made in faithful and fearful submissions.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Annunciations from God come with perfect submission.

Anil Joseph
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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